I purchased a 2005 Rancher a month ago and just got a flat tire. I found the leak, a small puncture in the tread (not the sidewall). I stopped at the Honda dealership and they said they couldn't fix any flats because of safety concerns. But they would sell me a new tire for $60.

Would a tire plug and some Slime work? Any suggestions.

Thanks

 

Thats what most of us do. Its a waste to toss a brand new tire because of a leak...theres plenty of life left in it. If i had to toss a tire everytime i got a flat...id be broke.
You can use both the plug and slime if you like, slime wont hurt anything, and if theres still a small leak, itll take care of it.
I found plugs and tools and glue at wallys world to be about the cheapest place to buy them. Youll need the reamer, to open up and clean the hole out, then the plug and the installation tool, and some of the rubber cement.
If you add the slime after you fix the leak...dont use much, one or two ounces should be enough.
Even if the leak is in the sidewall, you can still plug it. I've done it many times.

 

I second hondabuster's reply!!!!

 

Most every motorcycle shop will not repair road bike tires for fear of liability in the event of a failure, but will patch ATV tires.

Me and my buddies all carry a tire patch kit and a mini-foot pump in the glove box.

I previously had the little rubber patches that look like a hollow based bullet, but found they don't work well on quad tires. I think they were intended more for nail punctures in a motorcycle tire than a more ragged stick puncture on an ATV tire.

I would recommend getting the kind of repair kit that comes with the patches that look like little pieces of rope. Usually comes with a tool that looks like a screwdriver, but with an eyelet on the end to put in the patch, and a rasp looking tool, and glue.

Kits like that are like $12 at Shuck's or whatever auto parts place is handy. Includes instructions. Quick and easy, and same method a dealer would likely use.

The Mini-Foot pump brand of air pumps is the inflator I like best. I had been carrying a CO2 inflator, but the mini-foot pump is just as easy and almost as fast. Google will find their web page where you can order one, or if you are a member of Honda's owner's thing still, I think they offer them at a discount.

P.S. Personally I'm not a big fan of using a liquid tire sealant unless you live some place where you are picking up nails or whatever every day. In woods riding I seem to average a flat or two in a thousand miles, and I think they were too big for slime to fix on it's own anyway.

 

Got my 2006 Rancher back on October 28th and have had to plug 4 holes so far. Got all the plugging supplies from Wally-World, just like everyone has recommended. 1st flat was on the left front while working in the Wyoming high deserts. The rest were from a job down in Texas where the mesquite and other pointed vegetation is abundant. If I was riding down there all the time, I think I would slime all tires. I'm slime free so far, mostly because I didn't want another 4 pounds of unsprung weight! I do carry slime, air compressor and plug kit while out and about.

 

The stock tires on most machines are minimalist. It keeps the purchase price lower. If you want to do it right, count on getting some 6-ply tires and lighter rims, at some time in the future. I run Holeshot ATR's on my Ranchers and Holeshot XC's on my sport bikes, and I have NEVER HAD A FLAT. But any tire can get a puncture, so always carry a plug kit and some CO2 cartridges.

After trying both, I have to say I prefer Fix-a-Flat to Slime. I run it in my tires all the time for prevention of flats from thorns (the littler stuff that doesn't require a plug). Slime will just dry up and leave you with a nasty useless crust inside your tire. Be aware however that there might be rim corrosion issues from using any of these.

 

Do you have a local garage that works on your car/truck? If so take it there and get it plugged. I have a liftime mechanic that runs a shop in the town I live in. He repairs anything I own dirt cheap. Or you could plug it yourself, but I do it this way so if the plug fails I can have someone to take out my frustration on.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]